Plate holder foe cameras



(No Model.) y

J. M. RHODES.

PLATE EOLEEE EOE CAMERAS. No.`418,065. PatentedfDeo. 24, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPHM. RHODES, OF COVINGTON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO v.SUSAN S.

' RHODES, OF SAME PLACE.

`PLATE-HOLDER FOR CAMERAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 418,065, dated December 24, 1889.

Application filed August 1, 1889.

To all whom, t may concern: e

Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. RHODES, a

vcitizen of vthe United States of America, re-

siding at Covington, in the county of Fountain and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate-Holdvers for Cameras; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable oth- IoH ers skilled in the artA to which it appertains to 1 make and use the same, reference being had to p the accompanying drawings, and to letters and 'figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to devices for operating photographic plates; and it consists in the improved construction hereinafter described and set forth, whereby a simple and efficient arrangement is provided which will enable the plates t-o be quickly and conveniently brought into and out of position, their movement being such that they will not unnecessarily be exposed to light.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical section of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the plane e slightly in the rear 0f 'the device for shifting the plates', the upper pressure-plate being removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse 'horizontal section.

The main case-Aconsists of the Vertical side, top, and bottom portions, and is interiorly provided with upper andlower comtirely to the front of the frame.

' partments B O by means of a transverse horizontal partition a, which does not extend en- The' lower Vcompartment is provided adjacent to its front set forth in said application alluded to.

Each side of the main frame is provided near its front edge with a vertical channel c,

which is of dovetail form in cross-section, as shown in Fig. v3, and within each channel Serial No. 319,423. (No model.)

plays a vertical bar D, which is T-shaped 'in cross-section, so that its central raised portion will be iush with the adjacent faces lof the side of the case, and said bar D carries` at its lower end a spring-seated catch d,which is adapted to be pressed iiush with the inner face of the side.

Within the horizontal partition bears a transverse shaft F,one end of which projects? beyond one of the sides of the case, and is square-ended for the reception of a key, and is so recessed as to enable the said transverse shaft to carry at each side a gear-pinion c in mesh with rack-teeth f, located onT the adjacent sides of the sliding bar. The front portion of this transverse partition is provided with a horizontally-extending recess, in which is pivotally secured a transverse metallic strip adapted by its gravity'y to close the transverse opening formed between the horizontal partition and front plate. The recess in which this strip is pivoted is of such size that said plate may be moved back into the same to open the passage betweenthe upper and lower compartments. The said strip, however, is provided with a torsional spring to restore it to its normal closed position. The upper compartment is permanently closed by afront plate G. A rectangular plate H is adapted to iit snugly within each compartment, and each plateV has secured-to the rear of the same a threaded bolt g, the threaded end of which is adapted to pass through a central perfora- `l tion formed in the back section I, having a central raised portion h, designed to iit within the rear part of the chamber and furnished with side loops z', to enable the back section to be locked in position through the medium of engaging-hooks j, located on the vertical sides of the case. A coiled spring l embraces the threaded rod extending fromV the plate, so that said plate may be moved toward-:the front of the case under the force exerted ,byll the said spring. A nut m, engaging the outer threaded portion of the bolt, serves to secure the relative .engagement of said bolt with said back, and also limit the movement of said plate relative to said back. ber of the photographic plates K may be em- A num- IOO ployed at once, and each plate is confined in an individual metallic case n, which has retaining-tlanges 0 on three sides only to enable the ready withdrawal and insertion of the plate. A number of the photographic plates incased, as "explained, being placed in the lower compartment with their sensitive faces toward the light, the shutter-operating device may be manipulated to open the shutters to eX- pose said plates to the action of the light. The photographing operation bein-g completed, the shutters are closed, as is well understood. lVhile the plates are in the position described the movable side bars are at the limitof their lower movement, so that their catches are pressed back by contact with the recessed portions of the bottom of the frame. The action of the spring-follower back of Said plates is such that the bottom corners of the foremost plate is in line with said catches, and after the shutters have been closed the side key may be rotated to effect the ascent of the bars and cause the catches of the latter to engage said lower corners of the plate and elevate the same in a vertical position into the upper compartment B. As the movement of the plate occurs its upper edges contact with the transverse metallic strip and force the same back to secure a clear passage, and after the photographicplate passes completely within the upper compartment the said metallic strip will be restored to its horizontal position, and thus serve to completely exclude any light that might enter said chamber by way of the passage. The removal of the foremostplate causes the spring-acting follower to press the succeeding plate into the foremost position and the previously-described operation canbe repeated. As the plates successively enter the dark chamber the follower therein will yield, so that they will occupy successive positions relative to each other and can be. conveniently removed when desired. f e

Centrally within the front plate of the upper chamber is located a threaded bushing l, through which passes a thumb-screw 2, the inner end of which is reduced and provided with an annular groove 3. A horizontal bar 4 is located transversely in said upper chamber, its ends being located to slide in horizontal grooves formed in the vertical sides of said upper chamber and maintaining said bar horizontal. The central portion 5 of said bar is enlarged and perforated for the engagement of the end of the thumb-screw, so that a clamp-bolt 6 can enter the annular groove and rigidly connect the parts. The ofiice of this arrangement is to move the plates back out of position as they are passed into the upper chamber. The rotation of the nuts of the rear bolts adjusts the spring so as to enable the plates to be moved back or fed forward in the respective chambers. After a plate is moved back through the medium of the front thumb-screw and its crossbar the rotation of said thumb-screw is reversed, so as to retract said bar, to enable a succeeding plate to be passed into the upper chamber.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the device embodying my improvements is of great convenience and value in the photographic art and is of comparatively simple and durable construction.

I claim- 1. The combination, with the main frame having the upper and lower compartments, the latter being provided with the usual blind or shutter devices, of a horizontal Vpassage-way between said compartments, a spring-pressed follower in said lower compartment to press the plates in line with said passageway, and vertically-movable disconnected side bars, each having a catch on its inner face adjacent to its lower end to engage said plates, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the main frame having the upper and lowercompartments, as described, formed by the transverse partition provided with a transverse passage-way, of a movable section pivoted to said partition to close said passage-way a spring-pressed follower in said lower compartn'ient adapted to press plates in line with said passage-way,

` and movable side bars having catchesv to engage said plates when in line with said passagefway, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the main frame having a central horizontal partition forming upper and lower compartments, said partition providedl with a passage-way, of T- shaped barsmoving in corresponding recesses in the sides of the frame and provided with t rack-teeth, a transverse shaft bearing inl said partition and having gearpinions to engage said teeth, and a device for revolving said shaft, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, in the main frame having an upper dark chamber and lower operating-chamber, as described, communicating by a transverse passage-way, of movable side bars eachl provided at its lower end with a spring-seated catch, and rack and pinion devices for operating said bars, substantially as set fort-h,

5. The combination, with the main frame having the upper and lower chambers communicating as described and each provided with a movable plate, of a bolt connecting therewith and having its threaded end extending through a back plate, and a spiral spring embracing said bolt, and devices for sliding plates from one chamber to the other, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the main frame having the central partition forming upper and lower compartments communicating by means of a transverse passage-way, of movable side bars having catches and rack and IOO IIO

and bar connected thereto, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH M. RHODES. lVitnesses:

D. V. SPENCE, JOHN B. MARTIN.

IOv 

